What to look for when buying a block of land
5 Land Features that Impact the Design of a New Home
A block of land has various qualities and characteristics to consider when designing your home. It’s important to know what they are and to be aware of the potential impact and design restrictions they incur.
1
A building envelope
A building envelope sets design parameters for development. In short, it determines the area of land that you are permitted to build on within the block.
2
Easements
An easement is a section of land registered on the property title that gives someone else the right to use the land for a specified purpose, such as drainage and sewerage pipes.
It’s important to know if any easements exist and where they are located, as positioning can impact future building plans like in-ground pools and building extensions.
3
A crossover
A crossover is the front section of your driveway that is situated between the edge of the road and the front boundary of your block of land (footpath). It’s important to take note of the crossover location so you can design your home accordingly. In some instances crossover positioning can be changed but doing so may incur a fee from council.
In an existing area you need to seek approval from council prior to moving a crossover location.
4
The importance of soil
The type of soil on your block of land determines how your house must be built. The key reason for soil testing is to establish how likely it is that the soil will move, expand and contract with different levels of moisture content.
When soil reacts in these ways, movement can occur which can cause cracking in your new home. Your builder will organise for their own engineer to conduct a soil test to establish the best type of foundation for your new home to suit the soil type.
5
Size Matters
Ensure you know the maximum size and dimensions of the sort of home that will fit on your block.
Check the width and depth, including setback requirements (the distances you have to leave between your home and your site boundaries).
When you are building a home, the land it sits on is just as important as the structure itself. Pick the right block, and your dream design will fit perfectly into the landscape. Pick the wrong one, and you may need to adjust – or completely abandon – your long-held plans.
Like many things in life, the property market moves in cycles. Strong market growth may increase the value of properties, however at certain points of the cycle, the value may remain steady or even decline.
Knowing what point the cycle is at when you are considering your purchase will allow you to make an educated decision on the price you are willing to pay for your property.